Article carrier having improved partition structure

ABSTRACT

A basket-style article carrier having bottom, side and end walls and a multi-ply handle connected at its ends with the end walls is provided with improved transverse partition elements wherein a partition strip is foldably joined to one ply of the handle in conventional fashion and a reinforcing strip is foldably joined to the partition strip along the generally transverse fold line. An anchoring tab foldably joined to the end of the reinforcing strip which is remote from the handle is secured to the side wall in flat face contacting relation by means of glue or other suitable means. Preferably the anchoring tab is foldably joined to a portion of the top edge of the associated side wall. If desired, more than one partition structure may be employed.

United States Patent Forrer 1 3,669,306 1 June 13, 1972 [54] ARTICLECARRIER HAVING IMPROVED PARTITION STRUCTURE [2]] Appl. No.: 881,558

Shanahan ..220/1 1 1 2,844,281 7/1958 Ringler..... 3,208,633 9/1965Graser 3,335,905 8/1967 Arneson ..220/113 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,258,629 3/1961 France ..220/l 13 Primary Examiner-JosephR. Leclair Assistant ExaminerJames R. Garrett AttorneyWalter M. Rodgers[57] ABSTRACT A basket-style article carrier having bottom, side and endwalls and a multi-ply handle connected at its ends with the end walls isprovided with improved transverse partition elements wherein a partitionstrip is foldably joined to one ply of the handle in conventionalfashion and a reinforcing strip is foldably joined to the partitionstrip along the generally transverse fold line. An anchoring tabfoldably joined to the end of the reinforcing strip which is remote fromthe handle is secured to the side wall in flat face contacting relationby means of glue or other suitable means. Preferably the anchoring tabis foldably joined to a portion of the top edge of the associated sidewall. If desired, more than one partition structure may be employed.

9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN13 I972 3, 669.306

SHEET 1 or 7' FIG.|

INVENTOR HOMER W. FORRER ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUN 13 I972 SHEET 2 OF 7INVENTOR HOMER w. FORRER BY7/4Z ATTORNEY FIG. 5

PATENTEDJUH 1 3 1972 3, 669,306

SHEET 3 BF 7 INVENTOR HOMER w. FORRER FIG. 8 I j/fiWW ATTORNEYPATENTEDJUH13 I972 3.669 806 SHEET 5 BF 7 INVENTOR HOMER W. FORRERATTORNEY PATENTEUJUN 13 I972 3, 669 306 SHEET 8 OF 7 INVENTOR HOMER W.FORRER ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUH 13 m2 SHEET 7 BF 7 INVENTOR HOMER w. FORRERm m ATTORNEY FIG. I7

ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING IMPROVED PARTITION STRUCTURE Conventional strapstyle carriers are durable, mechanically strong and economical tomanufacture when the so-called high center cell feature is utilizedwherein an upwardly protruding center portion of the carton side wallsconstitutes means for anchoring at its ends a pair of transverselydisposed partition strips which define article receiving cells.

In order to provide a carrier wherein the side walls may be maderelatively high when compared to conventional strap style carriers andwherein the top edges of the side walls are of uniform height, animproved partition structure is provided according to this invention. Bythis invention, a partition strip is foldably joined to one ply of thecarrier handle in conventional fashion and a reinforcing strip struckfrom portions of the blank which normally constitute parts of the handlestructure is foldably joined to the partition strip along a fold linewhich is generally transverse to the carrier, and an anchoring tab,foldably joined to the reinforcing strip, is affixed to the innersurface of the carrier side wall and near the top edge thereof.Preferably the anchoring tab is affixed by glue and in order tofacilitate manipulation thereof by machine methods, the anchoring tab isfoldably joined to the top edge of the side wall along a short portionof the length thereof. If desired, the reinforcing strip may be extendedinwardly toward the handle beyond the fold line between the partitionstrip and the handle to define a reinforcing tab which may be secured tothe handle in such manner as to serve as reinforcement for the fold linebetween the handle and its associated handle panel.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIGS. l6 depict one form of the inventionwherein a carrier of the telescopic handle type is shown and in whichthe partition structure of the invention is incorporated;

FIGS. 7-12 depict a carrier having a reinforced handle panel and towhich the invention is applicable while FIGS. 13-18 depict a four cellarticle carrier of the telescoped handle type which may incorporate theinvention if desired.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up carrier which incorporates thepartition structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single unitary blank from which the carrierof FIG. 1 is formed;

FIGS. 3-6 include folding and gluing operations through which the blankof FIG. 2 is manipulated to form the complete collapsed carrier shown inFIG. 6.

FIGS. 7-12 correspond respectively to FIGS. 1-6 as do FIGS. 13-18.

With reference to the telescopic handle construction depicted in FIGS.l-6, the numeral 1 designates a side wall of the carrier to the bottomedge 2 of which a glue flap 3 is foldably joined. End wall panels 4 and5 are foldably joined along fold lines 6 and 7 respectively to the endedges of side wall 1. Riser panels 8 and 9 are foldably joined alongfold lines 10 and 11 respectively to the edges of end wall panels 5 and4. Handle panels 12 and 13 are separated by out line 14 and are foldablyjoined to riser panels 8 and 9 respectively along the fold lines 10 and11. Hand gripping apertures 15 and 16 are formed within handle panels 12and 13 respectively.

The other side of the carrier is of a similar construction and comprisesa pair of handle panels 17 and 18 separated by a slit 19 and foldablyjoined to handle panels 12 and 13 respectively along medial fold lines20 and 21. A partition flap 22 is struck from handle panel 17 and isfoldably joined thereto along a fold line 23 while a hand grippingaperture 24 is formed in handle panel 18. Riser panels 25 and 26 arefoldably joined to handle panels 17 and 18 along fold lines 27 and 28respectively. End wall panels 29 and 30 are foldably joined to riserpanels 25 and 26 respectively along fold lines 27 and 28 while side wallpanel 33 is foldably joined to riser panels 29 and 30 along fold lines34 and 35. Bottom panel 36 is foldably joined to the bottom edge of sidewall 33 along fold line 37 and a medial fold line 38 is formed withinthe bottom panel 36.

Notches 39 and 40 are formed in bottom panel 36 at the ends of fold line38. Notch 39 cooperates with a composite notch comprising the lockingnotches 41 and 42 formed in riser panels 8 and 25 in known manner whilenotch 40 cooperates with a composite notch comprising notches 43 and 44formed in riser panels 9 and 26 respectively.

The carrier elements as described above are conventional. The improvedpartition structure of this invention may take the form of fourpartition elements defining 6 cells for the carrier of FIGS. 1-6. Forexample, one partition structure comprises a partition strip 45 which isfoldably joined to handle panel 12 along fold line 46 together with areinforcing strip 47 which is foldably joined to partition strip 45along the diagonal fold line 48 together with an anchoring tab 49foldably joined to reinforcing strip 47 along fold line 50. Anchoringtab 49 is foldably joined to the top edge 51 of side wall 1 for a shortdistance as indicated at 52. A second partition structure constructedaccording to this invention is disposed between the side wall 1 and thehandle panel 13 and comprises a partition strip 53 foldably joined tohandle panel 13 along a fold line 54 together with a reinforcing strip55 foldably joined to partition strip 53 along a diagonal fold line 56together with an anchoring tab 57 foldably joined to reinforcing strip55 along fold line 58. As is apparent from FIG. 2 anchoring tab 57 isfoldably joined to the top edge 51 of side wall 1 along a short foldline 59. In FIG. 2 anchoring tabs 49 and 57 are shown separated fromeach other by a slit line which forms a continuation of slit 14.

On the other side of the handle and interposed between the side wall 33and the handle panel 17 is a partition structure comprising partitionstrip 60 foldably joined to handle panel 17 along a fold line 61together with a reinforcing strip 62 foldably joined to partition strip60 along a diagonal fold line 63 together with an anchoring tab 64foldably joined to reinforcing strip 62 along fold line 65. Anchoringtab 64 is foldably joined to the top edge 66 of side wall 33 for a shortdistance as indicated at 67.

In like fashion a separate partition structure is interposed betweenside wall 33 and handle panel 18 and comprises partition strip 68 whichis foldably joined to handle panel 18 along fold line 69 and reinforcingstrip 70 which is foldably joined to partition strip 68 along diagonalfold line 71 together with an anchoring tab 72 foldably joined toreinforcing strip 70 along fold line 73. Anchoring tab 72 is foldablyjoined to the top edge 66 of side wall 33 as indicated at 74. Of courseanchoring tabs 64 and 72 are separated from each other by a slit linewhich forms a continuation of slit 19.

In order to form a completed carrier in collapsed form as shown in FIG.6 from the blank shown in FIG. 2, an application of glue is first madeas indicated by stippling in FIG. 2.

Thereafter the reinforcing strips 47, 55, 62 and 70 are engaged bysuitable machine elements and are folded upwardly along fold lines 48,56, 63 and 71 respectively and over into the positions indicated in FIG.3. Of course this folding operation causes the anchoring tabs 49, 57, 64and 72 to swing simultaneously with their associated reinforcing stripsalong short fold lines 52, 59, 67 and 74 respectively. When this foldingoperation is completed anchoring tabs 49, 57, 64 and 72 are affixed inface contacting relationship to the inner surfaces of the associatedside walls.

After the partition structure is glued as shown in FIG. 3, anapplication of glue is made to the interior of handle panels 13 and 18as indicated by stippling in FIG. 3. Thereafter handle panels 12 and 17are elevated and swung toward the right to occupy the positions depictedin FIG. 4 wherein the handle panels 12 and 17 are secured in facecontacting relation to the outer handle panels 13 and 18. This foldingoperation also causes the simultaneous folding of end wall panels 5 and29 along their associated fold lines 7 and 34 and also folds thepartition structure by causing the reinforcing panels 47 and 62 to foldalong the fold lines 50 and 65 while simultaneously causing thepartition strips 45 and 60 to fold along their associated fold lines 46and 61. Upon completion of this folding operation, the blank thenappears as indicated in FIG. 4.

An application of glue is then made to the upper ends of riser panels 9and 26 in the region thereof adjacent the fold line 21 and to the innersurface of handle panel 17 in the region immediately below the fold line23. Thereafter riser panels 9 and 26 are elevated and swung toward theleft along their associated fold lines 11 and 28 respectively while thereinforcing panel 22 is folded downwardly into face contactingrelationship with the inner surface of handle panel 17 and adheredthereto by the glue indicated by stippling below the fold line 23.Simultaneously or thereabout, the bottom panel 36 is collapsed uponitself by a medial folding operation along the fold line 38 and theblank then appears as indicated in FIG. 5.

In order to complete the carrier, an application of glue is made to theblank as indicated by stippling in FIG. 5 following which side wall 1and all portions of the blank associated therewith and which aredisposed above the fold lines 20 and 21 are elevated and foldedforwardly and downwardly along the fold lines 20 and 21 to occupy thecollapsed condition represented by FIG. 6.

In order to set up the carrier, an application of force is made to theright hand edge of end wall panel 4 toward the left while the side wall1 is held against movement toward the left. This operation causes thelocking notch 40 to engage the composite locking notch 43, 44 inconventional fashion and the carrier then appears as depicted in FIG. 1.

From the description thus far and particularly from FIG. 1, it isapparent that the top edge 51 of side wall 1 is straight and that acarrier constructed according to this invention does not incorporate theso-called high center cell construction. Furthermore the carton sidewall 1 may be relatively deep compared to comparable carriers becausethe partition structure as is apparent from FIG. 2 is taken from areasof the blank which ordinarily constitute portions of the handle panels.In addition, it is apparent that each partition structure is of doublethickness. For example, reinforcing strip 47 is disposed in flat facecontacting relation to partition strip 45 affording a significantincrease in protection of the packaged bottles. Furthermore, the uniformheight of the side walls such as 1 and 33 and the downwardly taperedfold lines such as 48 and 56 which constitute the upper edges ofreinforcing panels 47 and 55 and their associated partition strips 45and 53 respectively facilitate loading operations of the carrier. Theoverall result of this invention is an improved partition structurewhich also increases the size of the exposed billboard area of the sidewalls and which also results in a carrier which is both sturdy andeconomical to produce from a single unitary blank.

The invention as described above is not limited to the socalledtelescopic type handle as shown in FIGS. 1-6 but may also be employed inconnection with a carrier of the type shown in FIGS. 7-12 inclusive. Inthese figures, all of the carton components are the same except thecarrier of FIG. 7 incorporates a medial reinforcing structure which isfoldably joined to the end edges of the outer handle panels instead ofthe telescoping handle structure. For this reason, the same referencenumerals are used in connection with the carrier of FIGS. 7-12 as areused in connection with the carrier of FIGS. 1-6 except that the carrierof FIGS. 7-12 does not incorporate telescoping handle panels such as 12and 17. Instead the carrier of FIGS. 7-12 incorporates reinforcingpanels designated in FIG. 8 by the numerals 12A and 17A which arefoldably joined to each other along medial fold line 20A and to the lefthand edge of handle panels 13A and 18A along fold lines 14A and 19Arespectively. Hand gripping aperture 15A is formed in reinforcing panel12A while reinforcing panel 22A is foldably joined to reinforcing panel17A along fold line 23A.

The partition structure of FIG. 8 which is associated with the outerhandle panels 13A and 18A is identical to the corresponding partitionstructure of the carrier of FIGS. 1-6 as is apparent from a comparisonof FIGS. 2 and 8 wherein partition strips 53 and 68 correspond topartition strips of the same number in FIG. 2 and wherein thereinforcing strips 55 and 70 and the anchoring tabs 57 and 72 areidentical to the corresponding elements in FIG. 2.v

In similar fashion the partition strips 45 and 60 are structurally thesame as corresponding strips shown in FIG. 2 as well as the associatedreinforcing strips 47 and 62 and anchoring tabs 49 and 64.

The only essential difference between the carrier of FIGS. 1-6 and thecarrier of FIGS. 7-12 insofar as the formation thereof is concerned hasto do with the manipulation of the reinforcing panels 12A and 17A. Forexample, after an application of glue is made as indicated by stipplingin FIG. 8 and the reinforcing strips and anchoring tabs are folded overto occupy the positions indicated in FIG. 9, an application of glue ismade to the inner surface of handle panels 13A and 18A as indicated bystippling in FIG. 9. After this application of glue, the reinforcingpanels 12A and 17A are elevated and swung toward the right along thefold lines 14A and 19A respectively to occupy the positions depicted inFIG. 10. This folding operation causes the simultaneous folding ofpartition strip 45 along the fold line 46 and of the reinforcing strip47 along the fold line 50 and upon completion of this folding operationthe blank appears as depicted in FIG. 10. Partition strip 60 andassociated reinforcing strip 62 are similarly manipulated.

An application of glue is then made to the inner ends of the riserpanels 25 and 8, 9 and 26 as indicated by stippling in FIG. 10.Thereafter the end wall panels 5 and 29 together with the associatedriser panels 8 and 25 are elevated and swung up-- wardly and toward theright along fold lines 7 and 34 while the riser panels 9 and 26 areelevated and swung toward the left along their associated fold lines 1 land 28 to occupy positions depicted in FIG. 11. Simultaneously thebottom panel 36 is collapsed on itself and the reinforcing panel 22A isfolded downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 to become secured inposition by the glue indicated by stippling in FIG. 10. The blank thenappears as shown in FIG. 11. In order to complete the carrier to thecollapsed condition depicted in FIG. 12, the side wall 1 and all otherparts of the carrier disposed above the fold lines 20A and 21A areelevated and folded forwardly to secure the parts in the collapsedcondition as indicated in FIG. 12. Of course the carton of FIG. 12 maybe set up in a manner described in connection with FIG. 6 to occupy theposition depicted in FIG. 7. From the above description it is apparentthat reinforcing structure of the carrier of FIGS. 7 and 12 is virtuallyidentical to that of the carrier ofFIGS. 1-6.

In order to make clear the fact that the partition structure of thisinvention may constitute a single transverse partition or in order todemonstrate that the partition structure of this invention may be usedin conjunction with a four bottle carrier, the carrier of FIGS. 13-18 isdisclosed. The carrier of FIGS. 13-18 is provided with a telescopichandle of the type incorporated in the carrier of FIGS. 1-6. Allelements of the carrier of FIGS. 13-18 are identified by the samereference numerals as are used in connection with the carrier of FIGS.1-6. The principal difference between the two carriers is the fact thatthe partition structure of FIGS. 1-6 which is identified by the numerals45-50, 52 is eliminated from the carrier of FIGS. 13-18 as is thestructure identified by the numerals 60-65 and 67. Otherwise thecarriers of FIGS. 1-6 and FIGS. 13-18 are identical except fordimensional relationships of the various parts whereby a four cellcarrier of FIGS. 13-18 is distinguished from six cell carrier of FIGS.1-6.

One structural feature is disclosed with respect to the carrier of FIGS.13-18 which is not disclosed in the other two carriers. This feature isin the form of reinforcing tabs 75 and 76 which are foldably joinedrespectively along fold lines 77 and 78 to the reinforcing strips 55 and70 respectively. These reinforcing tabs when the reinforcing strips 55and 70 are folded to the positions depicted in FIG. 16 are foldablyjoined to the reinforcing tabs along their fold lines 77, 78 which arein alignment with the fold lines 54 and 69 of the partition strips.Since the reinforcing tabs 75 and 76 are applied with glue and fastenedto their adjacent face contacting handle panels 13 and 18, they serve toprovide a double ply thickness for the partition structure.

While the reinforcing tabs 75 and 76 are shown only in connection withthe carrier of FIGS. 13-18, it will be understood that this structurecould be incorporated as well into the carriers of FIGS. 1-6 inclusiveand FIGS. 7-12 inclusive as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The folding operations whereby the carrier of FIGS. 13-18 is glued andcompleted into its collapsed condition as shown in FIGS. 13-18 areidentical to the folding operations described above and shown in FIGS.l-6 and will not here be described again for the sake of simplicity, itbeing obvious how the folding is effected from FIGS. 13-18 particularlyin view of the description above in connection with the FIGS. 1-6. Thenumerals are the same except for the depiction of the reinforcing means75 and 76 and the structure associated therewith.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Partition structure for a basket style article carrier having bottom,side and end walls and a multi-ply medial handle secured at its ends tosaid end walls, said partition structure comprising at least onetransverse partition strip foldably joined to one ply of said handle, areinforcing strip foldably joined to said partition strip along a foldline generally longitudinal of said strips and with said strips disposedin flat face to face contacting relation, and an anchoring tab foldablyjoined to said reinforcing strip and secured in flat face contactingrelation with the inner surface of one of said side walls.

2. Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring tabis foldably joined to the top edge of said one side wall.

3. Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein said generallylongitudinal fold line between said partition and reinforcing stripsdefines the top edges of said strips.

4. Partition structure according to claim 3 wherein said top edges ofsaid partition and reinforcing strips are downwardly inclined from saidhandle toward said side wall.

5. Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein a reinforcing tab isfoldably joined to said reinforcing strip adjacent said handle andwherein said reinforcing tab is affixed in flat face contacting relationto said handle so as to reinforce the fold line between said partitionstrip and said one ply of the handle to which said partition strip isfoldably joined.

6. Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein a pair of partitionstrips are foldably joined to different plys of the handle on one sidethereof and wherein a reinforcing strip is foldably joined to eachpartition strip with an anchoring tab foldably adjoined to eachreinforcing strip and to the adjacent side wall.

7. Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein said partition andreinforcing strips are secured together in face to face contactingrelation.

8. Partition structure according to claim 5 wherein said reinforcing tabis secured in flat face contacting relation to at least one ply of thehandle.

9. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, a side wall having a topedge of uniform height and foldably joined to each side edge of saidbottom wall, an end wall panel foldably joined to each end edge of eachside wall and extending transversely inward therefrom, a riser panelfoldably joined to each inwardly extending edge of each end wall paneland extending medially inward therefrom, the two riser panels at eachend of the carrier being secured together in flat face to facecontacting relation, a multi-ply handle secured at its ends to upwardlyextending portions of said riser panels at each end of the carrier, atleast one transverse partition strip foldably joined to one ply of saidhandle, a reinforcing strip foldably joined to said partition stripalong a fold line generally longitudinal of said strips and with saidstrips disposed in flat face to face contacting relation and ananchoring tab foldably joined to said reinforcing strip and to the topedge of one of said side walls, said anchoring tab being disposed inflat face contacting relation with the inner surface of said side walland being secured thereto.

1. Partition structure for a basket style article carrier having bottom,side and end walls and a multi-ply medial handle secured at its ends tosaid enD walls, said partition structure comprising at least onetransverse partition strip foldably joined to one ply of said handle, areinforcing strip foldably joined to said partition strip along a foldline generally longitudinal of said strips and with said strips disposedin flat face to face contacting relation, and an anchoring tab foldablyjoined to said reinforcing strip and secured in flat face contactingrelation with the inner surface of one of said side walls.
 2. Partitionstructure according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring tab is foldablyjoined to the top edge of said one side wall.
 3. Partition structureaccording to claim 1 wherein said generally longitudinal fold linebetween said partition and reinforcing strips defines the top edges ofsaid strips.
 4. Partition structure according to claim 3 wherein saidtop edges of said partition and reinforcing strips are downwardlyinclined from said handle toward said side wall.
 5. Partition structureaccording to claim 1 wherein a reinforcing tab is foldably joined tosaid reinforcing strip adjacent said handle and wherein said reinforcingtab is affixed in flat face contacting relation to said handle so as toreinforce the fold line between said partition strip and said one ply ofthe handle to which said partition strip is foldably joined. 6.Partition structure according to claim 1 wherein a pair of partitionstrips are foldably joined to different plys of the handle on one sidethereof and wherein a reinforcing strip is foldably joined to eachpartition strip with an anchoring tab foldably adjoined to eachreinforcing strip and to the adjacent side wall.
 7. Partition structureaccording to claim 1 wherein said partition and reinforcing strips aresecured together in face to face contacting relation.
 8. Partitionstructure according to claim 5 wherein said reinforcing tab is securedin flat face contacting relation to at least one ply of the handle. 9.An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, a side wall having a topedge of uniform height and foldably joined to each side edge of saidbottom wall, an end wall panel foldably joined to each end edge of eachside wall and extending transversely inward therefrom, a riser panelfoldably joined to each inwardly extending edge of each end wall paneland extending medially inward therefrom, the two riser panels at eachend of the carrier being secured together in flat face to facecontacting relation, a multi-ply handle secured at its ends to upwardlyextending portions of said riser panels at each end of the carrier, atleast one transverse partition strip foldably joined to one ply of saidhandle, a reinforcing strip foldably joined to said partition stripalong a fold line generally longitudinal of said strips and with saidstrips disposed in flat face to face contacting relation and ananchoring tab foldably joined to said reinforcing strip and to the topedge of one of said side walls, said anchoring tab being disposed inflat face contacting relation with the inner surface of said side walland being secured thereto.